Putin congratulates Russia coach after emphatic win

FIFA president Gianni Infantino and Russian President Vladimir Putin watch the ceremony prior to the Russia 2018 World Cup Group A football match between Russia and Saudi Arabia at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow on June 14, 2018. / AFP PHOTO / SPUTNIK / Alexey DRUZHININ

Russia coach Stanislav Cherchesov said he received a congratulatory call from President Vladimir Putin after the World Cup hosts pummelled Saudi Arabia 5-0 in the tournament’s opening match on Thursday.

Cherchesov’s team entered the match at Moscow’s 80,000-seat Luzhniki Stadium under intense pressure to put on a worthy performance.

Russia were without a win in more than eight months and ranked 70th in the world — the lowest of the 32 teams in the showpiece.

But the men in red appeared to gain confidence as the match progressed and the decibel level in the cavernous arena grew louder.

They scored twice in stoppage time and several Saudi players slumped to the ground after the final whistle.

Putin smiled several times as he watched the game in a VIP box with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

Cherchesov said the Russian leader called him immediately after the game.

“The head of state called me and congratulated me, told me to keep playing the way we were, to keep going,” he told reporters.